Thessalon, Ontario, Canada had became a thriving settlement that was first in habited by the Thessalon First Nations, which was an aboriginal culture known as the Ojibway. Much of the Native community at this time had mainly thrived on fish that was taken out from the Thessalon RIver, and animals that were hunted for meat and fur. This at the time was the primary survival as the land that was known as “Neyashewun” meaning “point of land.". It was during this time period when the North Shore area of Ontario, Canada, was being widely inhabited and the name Thessalon was adapted in 1670. The origin of Thessalon is quite not known to when it was first named or by who had adapted this name but theories on its establishment could have been taken from a First Nation word or phrase or perhaps it was taken from the bible or maybe from the early Jesuit Priests. The other theory which makes obvious sense would of possibly have been establish as a military post that was developed inline with the U.S border.

The very first European Settler to have arrived in Thessalon was John Mcbain and his family that came to this area in 1867. This family at the time had rather occupied a plot of land at about 2 miles from the Thessalon River during this time period of residency. Much of the very first land that was occupied at this time was rather tilted on an old native property that was also inhabited by two other residence known as the Donald and Malcolm McLeod. This would also be the home of two other residence that resided in log cabins at the mouth of the Thessalon River, and were commonly known as John Gegar and Peter Genelle. However, records show that the area was well in habited before McBain's arrival to the general area and had been first establish as a primary spot for farming that was undertaken by the European Explorers in 1780, after the American War of Independence.

It was during the depletion of white pine along the southern shores of Georgian Bay that had mainly started thriving logging operations by the early 1870’s. During this time it was also considered that the very first lumber mill of wood operation to have made it way into the North Channel was establish by Joseph Salvai in Blind River. Within this time period Mr. Salvail had came to agreements with the Montreal Mining Company in order to supply lumber and timbers for buildings and mining operations at Bruce Mines. Blind River at this time was mainly chosen because it was found that the river could be dammed in order to provide water power for the on-site mill that he had built on the west side of the river.Mr. Sallvail was rather one of the fewer loggers to have resided on the North Channel and was not obliged to pat timber dues. He would additionally sell his property to lumber barrens known as Peter Murray and Joseph Williams of Goderich in 1869. Plans by these to individuals had escalated when this had called for a major expansion of the Blind River establishment.Their direct plans at this time were mainly aimed at building a mill with a capacity of 50,000 board feet of Lumber per day, but lack of capital had delayed the realization of the objective until 1881.

The failure of this Lumber Mill had shortly regained interest to the area when Nathaniel Dyment had came to Thessalon with an intention of building a saw mill operation. It was at this point in time when he had acquired a licences to conduct logging operations on the Native Reserve. His main attention at this time was aimed towards operating along the Thessalon River that became cleared. Before this had occurred it was also reported that Mr. Dyment had came to this area with the much needed machinery to develop his own saw milling operation in 1871. This will be described in a little bit more detail on another article that will be attached to this and will give the insight on history of what became a thriving business by the Dyment Lumber Company. During 1906, the Dyment Lumber Company was eventually sold to new interest that became known as the Thessalon Lumber Company.

This at the time was also followed by the development of other lumbering mills at had occupied the North Shore of Lake Huron at this time. The North Shore was rather accessed by the mean of railway lines that were establish by the Algoma Central Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway Line. Most of these small scale areas such as Bruce Mine, Blind River, Thessalon, Espanola, Manitoulin Island and Sault Ste Marie had acted as station points. Much of the mills of the area which will be mention in a later article are know to included the Burtis Mill, the Hope Mill, Nesterville Mill, Gordon Mill, and other mills of the area. Mining activity along the north shore became quite prosperous at this time when contracts were given to the lumber barrens who actively built mills and incorporated companies.

Prior to Lumbering, Thessalon was also thriving on a secondary industry when the Woollen Mill was the first to operate within the area. It was reported that this enterprise was being planned in 1888, and it was by 1890, when Mr. Dyment had stated that Jas Gordon of Kincardine had plans to a woollen Mill. He at the time would also apply for a loan of $2,000 which was denied as the town had lacked the means to make such a commitment to this area. This wasn't till a later time period when the Thessalon Woollen Mills, Limited had been organized under the management of the Cronkhite Brothers in 1897. The mill at this time was mainly designed as a two storey structure that had been made from brick structure and had also confirmed that ample amount of financing was available for this development. This will also be talked about in a later article that will be attached to this time-line of history in the Thessalon area.

Mining within the operating year of 1906, was also another contributor to the economy of Thessalon as Rock Lake Mine, Bruce Mines, Copper Queen, and other mines that were active in this area. During this time period, a promoter by the name of H. Appleton had made his way into this wilderness setting area that was accessed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Line. His main attention at this time was the proposal to start a smelting operation in the Thessalon area in regards to processing rich output of copper ore. It was the Council proceedings on January, 15, 1907, when a featured delegation of prominent citizens headed by A. A Burk who had urge their municipal representatives to make definite and favourable offers to induce the bringing of a smelter into town. Mr. Appleton had rather attended this council meeting to discuss the agreement and contract that was signed on April, 9, 1907. Land at this time was also provided that became situated east of the town on a bay and councillor D. C. Cole was then given responsibility of overseeing the opening of a road to the site. This at the time would also boost economic opportunities for other companies when the Saginaw Salt and Lumber Company had negotiated a contract to supply wood for the building of this large scale mill. The smelter site was additionally in operation for one year and had only came to failure due to the processing not being suitable for production of ore. Within 1919, the former mill site was later made into a box factory that was developed by the Firstbrook Brothers of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Much of the major industry would only operated till 1929, when the great depression had cause some down falls to occur with the box making industry and the factory would be closed in 1930.

Other major projects of the area during 1906, were also being confined to building a Veneer Mill that was to supply Veneers for the making of Baskets. This creative idea came to play when Joseph Edward Asam, a native of Munroe, Michigan, had came to Algoma via Owen Sound in 1906. His main attentions at this time were mainly aimed at establishing a Veneer Mill for the supply of wood Veneer that was used for basket making near Rock Lake. It was also considered as the only mill of its type to have been developed within the province of Ontario, Canada, at this time. Much of the wooden Veneers that were used for making wooden baskets were also being shipped by rail from the mill to the Algoma Railway and later to the Soo Line of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Lumber Mill at this time had continued to dominate the North Shore region when another lumber mill was built by the Saginaw Salt and Lumber Company in 1908. Most of the production of wood was continued for a short time period as business was place under contract to supply boards to the C. A. Beck Lumber Company. Milling operation would only continue for a short time period by this company as it was sold to the Hope Lumber Company. In order to get this operation moving the company had arrange financing by Messrs. White, Gatrick and Mitchell of Buffalo, New York. It was also believed that this was a subsidiary company that became operated by Foss Lumber Company, which was named after Edith Hope Foss. Lumber at this time was also entering is prosperous stage when 1915 and 1929, had steady lumber markets that were in demand of supply. Within 1920, the Hope Lumber Company had came under control of James L. Crane, of Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada. At this time, Mr. Crane had ran this business under the name Hope Lumber Company, until 1927, when the company had closed the mill and moved off to Donnegona. It was at a later time period when Mr. Crane had reorganized the company to form a new company in 1929, which was known as the Crane Lumber Company. With limited amount of success it was reported that the saw mill in Donnegona was not very successful and had only operated for one year before it was closed in 1930.

As high-grade lumber was needed, it was also at this time when the Crane Lumber Company would once again reopen the Old Hope Mill in 1931. It was during 1932, when this company had major down falls as it would end up suffering a tremendous loss in profit when a raging fire swept through the lumber yard. Most of this was caused due to a major draught that effected much of Northern Ontario with raging fires that could be seen for miles at this time. Operations by the Crane Lumber Company would additionally continue up till 1939, when the company would end up shutting down and Thessalon was now without a major sawmill industry.

Revival of the lumbering industry was additionally made in 1948, when the Midway Lumber Mills, Ltd. had operated in the area. Much of the timber that was cut and obtained within this time period had also been obtained through small crown licences and deeded property. Most of the milling that was done had been mainly conducted locally while lumber was also being shipped to the United States for further processing. This at the time was rather a large scale operation that was being achieved by the American Firm who had process lumber at several mill sites in United States and Canada.